Isaiah, Part 27
The Joy of Looking Forward!
Isaiah 65:1-25 and Isaiah 66:1-24
- Welcome to Seasons – intro – we are so glad you’ve come to worship today
- Pray
Point 1 – God’s provisions in a New Era of Salvation
- Read 65:1-16 – See the promises and the cry of God to the people of His creation:
• 2-5: Criticism: Be Holy; be witnesses God can send a Messiah through
• 6-7: Given a strong warning to those who willingly rejected Him
• 8-10: Some will be saved; those who were faithful; remnant; heirs
• 11-12: (Indictment) Judgment would be on those who turned to false idols
- See results: There are TWO destinies for those living in NEW era of salvation:
• For the saved: blessings of God (survival, new name, new spirit, worship)
• For the unsaved: terrifying future (suffering, hunger, shame, sad, cursed)
- Read 65:17-25 – See the promise of an eternal future (hope) with Christ:
• 17-18: God paints a glorious picture of the new Jerusalem (new creation)
• 19: No more sorrow or weeping anymore (no more suffering b/c of sin!)
• 20: The power of death will be gone from the saved (no more fear of it)
• 21: We will work; we’ll have responsibilities; it’ll be meaningful work
• 22: Live and work in peace and security (eternal hope of protection)
• 23: Be transformed to dwell in a perfect world (no more mindless toiling)
• 24: Have constant, unbroken fellowship with the Lord (direct access)
• 25: Nature will be transformed and reset (think: Garden of Eden)
Homework: Romans 8:18-24 about today’s trouble vs. tomorrow’s glory!!!
- TR: But wait, there is more! CH: See goodness of God here as a Loving Father!
Point 2 – Listen to (don’t just hear) the Word of the Lord!
Read 66:vv1-5 See: the true temple of God:
• It’s not just a building! Everything that He has created is His true temple
• His creation represents Him; it speaks to us about His character; invites us in
• Consider 1 Corinthians 3:16 … we represent Him (now) living inside of us!
• Sacrifices are not what God wanted (v2b & v5); He wanted His creation!
Read 66:vv6-14 See: A restored Jerusalem; both the city and the people:
• God points to the wonderous gift in the birth of a new city (see Rev 21:2)
• All of His people will rejoice at His gift; they will be satisfied & praise
• APP: God will restore His people to their rightful place: to reside with Him
Read 66:vv15-18 See: the Day of the Lord: a terrifying judgement imposed:
• Note the entrance (difference) of God for those who’ve rebelled (vv15-16)
• The recipients are: those who’ve made for themselves false gods to worship
• Who have worshiped at man-made idols: social media; Hollywood, politics
Read 66:vv19-21 The proclamation of God’s glory (worldwide praise):
• God will direct His word to go forth; to proclaim the only way (Christ)!
• God will anoint His ‘priests’ to proclaim His promise; to witness for Him!
• APP: To herald the truth of who He is for all eternity … for His glory!
Read 66:vv22-23 The gift of eternal life in the new Heavens and Earth:
• The final days of human history will usher in unbelievable peace and joy
• Those who are/were true to Him will live; they will enjoy; they will prosper
• We will have a NEW name; a name known to Him; and will be His!!
Read 66:v24 Last: A final warning exposing the fate of the unrepentant:
- Need us to understand this – grasp this as if YOUR life depended on it
-- Death does not mean that we cease to exist; it is just the beginning of eternity
-- For those who are unrepentant and refuse God now - He will refuse them later
-- However, they will not be wiped from existence - just from His grace/mercy
- Isaiah is shown a visual of this; Hell; eternal separation from God forever
-- With a fire that never goes out, yet it burns (active word) and they are devoured
-- Jesus discussed this same place when showing the dangers of sin in Mark 9:42-48
-- Often referred to Valley of Hinnom; outside Jerusalem; unclean corpses burned
- The person, or persons, who refuse God’s call for mercy will reside in this place
• The ungodly (the self-righteous, unrepentant, choosers of sin) will be here
• Those who refuse to repent because they value or make excuses for sin
• Those who try to soften God’s word and use it for their own purposes
• Those who won’t see Christ as Lord; instead use Him as a good luck charm
• Those who choose to hold onto their sin because it makes them feel good
BIG IDEA
- But … do you see something key here? “As they go out” …. WHO?
• God’s people; the visitors to the New Jerusalem!
• Those who’ve come to the Holy City to worship (v23); to be with God
• 2025: Those who have come to church to worship; denied the beggar outside
- We shall see those who are in torment … people you know/love will be there
• Those who you refuse to witness or tell about Jesus will be there …
• The ones who refuse Christ will be there; the ones who deny His grace
• The ones that we won’t share Him with because we are too busy
- This is the perfect line to end Isaiah with – because it was His motivator
-- He knew most would rebel, but He also knew that SOME would hear
-- This is what made it worth it to Him to go and to tell the Good News
- Today’s CH: Where will you be? And do you care about the others?
-- Do you care enough to tell others that a place of eternal damnation exists?
-- If we won’t, then those who are in Christ will see and know those who aren’t
-- v24b: “All who pass by will view them with utter horror” … how will you feel?
Pray
